Five observations: USC 50, UCLA 0

Here are my top five observations on USC's demolition of UCLA, as well as the state of the program with the 2011 season having come to an end:

1. The shame of no more games

There were a lot of good vibes at the Coliseum on Saturday night. During and after the game, it felt like one big party (if you were a USC supporter, anyway). But an evening of fun, celebration and reflection had one significant downside: The Tabasco-hot Trojans don't get to play again. And that's a shame. NCAA sanctions that were blatantly excessive for violations committed more than six years ago are keeping USC out of the postseason for the second year in a row. The next day, Lane Kiffin tried to make sense of it all but couldn't. "It just makes no sense," he said. "What was the purpose of taking away bowl games from these 18- to 22-year-olds who were in fifth grade when this stuff happened?" Equally senseless is sending UCLA to Autzen Stadium to face Oregon in the so-called Pac-12 Championship Game. Does anyone outside Eugene want to see the Bruins get blasted by 50 points again? A USC-Oregon rematch would have had tons of intrigue and would have drawn gigantic TV ratings. It could have cemented Matt Barkley's suddenly legitimate Heisman Trophy campaign. Instead, the Bruins play on while the Trojans stay home. It was the one thing that felt wrong on a night when so much went right for USC.

2. Speaking of Barkley ...

We know USC won't play another football game in 2011. Will Barkley ever play another game for the Trojans? That's the $20 million question as this offseason prematurely begins. My gut says he's going pro so he can challenge and better himself at the highest level. But I thought Mark Sanchez was going to stay, and we all know how that turned out. Despite having covered all of his games, attended almost all of his practices and interviewed him countless times, I can't say I have a great feel for what Barkley is going to do. He has been amazingly adept at not giving anything away. What I can say with some certainty is that I don't expect him to make a hasty decision. A source close to Barkley told me Saturday night that he'll take some time to "decompress" before sitting down with his family and coaches to examine his options. There's no reason to rush. USC still has final exams to take, Barkley could be headed to New York next week and the deadline to declare for the draft isn't until mid-January. It's important when making a major decision like this to take the emotion out of it. Barkley is wise enough to do that. In the end, the only sentiment that should matter is what he truly wants to do.

3. And the others?

Barkley isn't the only one with an NFL draft decision to make. Offensive tackle Matt Kalil, defensive end Nick Perry and safety T.J. McDonald also must decide whether to stay or go. Again relying on intuition, my best guess is that Kalil and Perry will leave and that McDonald will stay. I talked to all three about the topic in recent days, and they were generally noncommittal (although I never believe it when players say they haven't even thought about it ... how can you not?). Kalil indicated he and Barkley weren't a package deal, saying Barkley is "going to do his own thing regardless" of Kalil's decision. Some draft analysts have Kalil as the No. 2 pick behind Andrew Luck, and it'd be hard to come back for another year if that were truly the case. (A scout I spoke to recently projected Kalil to go about 20th; I believe reality lies somewhere in between.) Perry isn't currently projected as a first-rounder. He had a good year, if not the breakout campaign many predicted. If the reports are true, he'll work out extremely well and rise in the offseason. Although he said his family's financial situation wouldn't dictate his decision, it could be a bigger factor than with the others. While it's easy to project Perry as a 3-4 outside linebacker in the NFL, it isn't as easy to foresee a role for McDonald. Although improved in coverage, he's one of those oversized, in-the-box safeties who aren't in vogue in a league that's becoming increasingly spread out (see Taylor Mays). McDonald said that he was planning to return as of last week. I think he will.

4. In-season developments

Barkley, Kalil, Perry and McDonald were expected to be the anchors of the 2011 Trojans, and they were. But the in-season development of other, less-heralded players played a vital role in the team exceeding expectations. Kiffin on Sunday cited two such players, freshman receiver Marqise Lee and redshirt-junior tailback Curtis McNeal. Both unquestionably had a huge impact on the offense, with Lee providing a much needed No. 2 receiving option (with big-play capabilities, to boot) and McNeal adding consistency and explosiveness to the running attack. I'd add two to that list. The first features five guys who are no doubt excited about the impending opening of Five Guys near the USC campus. Over a three-month span, USC's offensive line transformed itself from liability to strength. The Trojans ended their season tied for fourth in the nation with only eight sacks allowed (including that ridiculous intentional-grounding call at Oregon). Barkley had a lot to do with that, but I'm sure he'd be the first to credit his personal protectors. The other player who emerged in midseason was junior cornerback Isiah Wiley. The JC transfer barely played early in the season. But when injuries KO'd Torin Harris and Anthony Brown, Wiley stepped in and boosted the level of play at that spot. By season's end, he had become one of the defense's most valuable commodities.

5. Athletes in action

Whether Barkley comes back will determine just how high USC is ranked heading into next season. If he returns, the Trojans could be No. 1. If he doesn't, they'll surely be top 15. They're in the top 10 right now, something programs on probation just don't do. But Kiffin believes USC is some sort of life force, like the island on "Lost." Regardless of the sanctions, 'SC remains an attractive destination for the finest area athletes who grew up rooting for the Trojans and view USC as a launching pad to the NFL. Look no further than Kiffin's game plan Saturday night. He knew UCLA's secondary couldn't cover Lee or Robert Woods, so he fed them continually. USC simply out-athleted UCLA. The game was over less than 10 minutes into the first quarter. Ever since he took over, Kiffin has talked about reprising the run he was a part of last decade. Since the Cal game, USC absolutely has looked the part. The scholarship reductions still might cause some damage, but for the time being, the Trojans are back. It almost feels as if they never went away.

User Agreement

Keep it civil and stay on topic. No profanity, vulgarity, racial
slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about
tragedies will be blocked. By posting your comment, you agree to
allow Orange County Register Communications, Inc. the right to
republish your name and comment in additional Register publications
without any notification or payment.